We recently connected with Sarah Suwanasung and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I haven’t always been lucky enough to earn a full-time living for my creative work and modeling. It definitely took me some time to find my groove and get the confidence to secure multiple agencies in multiple cities. Just like making a career change, moving to a new city pursuing a career I knew nothing about was pretty tough. I began in 2013 with one agent and stuck with them for about two years later moving onto another, and then, another. You really have to find the right fit. finding the right agent takes time and experience, you won’t know until you have tried working together for ‘X’ amount of time. If I knew then what I knew now, I would have tried harder to find the right fit instead of signing with the first agent that came my way. It’s a big deal to have representation, so I just wanted to lock some thing in, but if I could change that I would have interviewed with more agents to see who I felt most comfortable with and where I felt I wouldn’t be lost in a roster of too many models.
Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
my background was always in the service industry, I worked in a restaurant, since I was about 14 years old, because my parents owned one. I never imagined myself leaving my city on top of pursuing a career in the modeling industry. I have tried modeling before, had a couple photo shoots, did a calendar, but never was it anything near as close to what professional jobs I do now. I decided to take the leap and move to Los Angeles and pursue this career because somebody saw something in me and helped me set up a meeting in Los Angeles. That person was somebody who sat at my bar and thought that I could get more out of life. I was never the prettiest, the fittest, the one that anybody thought would become what I am. I don’t think anybody saw it coming. What I want to teach others is that anything is possible, dreams are real, and you can go after and achieve anything that you put your mind to and put the work in for. Not everybody starts as a kid, not everybody comes in with experience, it is up to you to start something new & be the difference. Put in the work and make something of yourself.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
there was a time when I booked my first few jobs, but what I didn’t know is that you don’t get paid for your work when the work is done. The client who you work for has a certain amount of time to pay your agent who booked you for the job, who then has a certain amount of time to pay you. It’s a chain of events that I was unaware of that led me to rock-bottom. I made the mistake of not having a job on the side, like serving or working at a local bar. After my first few months in Los Angeles, and my first few jobs, I completely ran out of money and maxed out my credit card. I had no idea what to do so I went to the nearest sports bar and bugged them until they hired me. I then at least had another source of income. However, there was still money I owed for rent and to be paid back for my maxed out credit card. When I moved here, a lot of people said if you make it past the first year to couple years, you’re in. What most people don’t know is that I almost didn’t even make it to the first year. I’m proud to say that I made a come back, and came out swinging, and I’m now on year 9.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
in the beginning of my journey, I wish I knew more about social media. Social media has been a major resource to helping me find representation, and even booking jobs. Instagram has been a major resource, not only for exposure, but also brand partnerships and research on agencies.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahfromtexas.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sarahfromtexas